Effect of granular activated carbon on degradation of methyl orange when applied in combination with high-voltage pulse discharge.

The application of a gas-liquid series electrical discharge reactor for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) in the presence of granular activated carbon (GAC1V, GAC2V, and GAC3V) was investigated and the effect of these GACs in a combined treatment was evaluated, respectively. Under the experimental conditions used in this work, MO cannot be removed completely by GAC adsorption; the MO degradation is faster by pulse discharge, but satisfactory removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) is never achieved. The MO degradation can be increased and COD can be removed effectively in the combined treatment through both the adsorption and the catalysis of GAC. The synergy intensity value indicates that a high correlation exists between the catalytic effect of GACs and the number of basic groups on their surface. Boehm titration and FTIR studies indicate that both acidic and basic groups on the GAC surface can be increased except that basic groups of GAC2V are slightly decreased by this process. This process can also slightly decrease their surface area and micropore and macropore volume. Furthermore, the virgin and saturated GAC samples can both be regenerated in situ after repeated use.